Bicentennial Farm Profile - Cory Family Farm  

Brothers Nathan (left) and Jesse Cory chop wood. Circa 1940s

The farm today. Today, the farm is rented to a first cousin, Ed Kruger, who grows a rotation of corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay. Beef cattle were last raised on the farm in 1965, and hogs left the farm in 1962. It was a dairy farm until 1956. Sheep, horses, and chickens were raised in the early 1900s. William Noah Cory planted an orchard in 1873-1874 and these “truck garden” crops, including grapes, asparagus, potatoes, rhubarb and tomatoes, were grown until World War II. Jesse Cory was well-known throughout the area for growing sweet corn until 1997. 

The farm in 1803. The earliest farm records indicate that Nathan Cory had cattle, horses, hogs, geese, and sheep, and grew corn, wheat, and hay. It is believed they spun their own wool with a spinning wheel. The current home was built in 1873 for $2,400 and remodeled in 1915. A double corncrib built in 1876 still stands on the farm. The buggy house built in 1878 is now used as a garage. A unique feature of the haymow is the existence of grapple hooks for loose hay. By re-stringing the rope, hay could be dumped on either side of the central entryway. The first tractor on the farm was a Farmall in the 1930’s. 

Notable ancestors and accomplishments. Both Nathan and his brother Stephen Cory were surveyors for Virginia Military Survey.  They worked for two of the most prominent early Ohio leaders, Duncan McArthur and Nathaniel Massie. In fact, Cory purchased his farm from Nathaniel Massie on Sep 23, 1800. However, the sale may have been negotiated before Nov 13, 1798. At this time, Massie sued Nathan Cory for $150 plus damages. Court papers show that Thomas Worthington and Edward Tiffin were public officials in this case long before either of them became governor of Ohio. The $150 was the same sum paid in Kentucky money to Nathaniel and Susan Massie in 1800 after the lawsuit was settled. Nathan Cory was a well-known Baptist Elder in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. William Noah Cory was a Baptist minister as well as a farmer and other ancestors were active civil servants and served the country in many wars in the armed forces. 

Quotable Quote.  “They were honest accurate and frugal men and were rated as the model farmers of the Frankfort region for miles around there.”

Fred G. Morrison, referring to William Noah Cory and either Oliver Wooster Cory or Oliver Anson Cory in a letter written to J. Kenneth Bowdle and Jane Cory Bowdle on Jan. 24, 1953. 

Special Note. Joe Cory, Sue Cory Williams [sister with no interest in this property] and Janice Cory Bexfield are also descendents of White Brown of Deerfield Township, Ross County, whose bicentennial farm is currently owned by the Chenoweth cousins of Joe and Janice.  They are additionally descendents of Henry Bowdle of Union Township, Ross County, whose bicentennial farm is currently owned by the Bowdle cousins of Joe and Janice.